New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-17
THE THISTLE'S OPPONENT.
FOUR GOOD sLOOPs IN THE FIELD.

FOUR GOOD SLOOPS IN THE FIELD.
GENERAL PAINE's NEW STEEL woNDER-THE M
PORTANCE OF PROFESSIONALS IN YACHT-SAIL-
ING.
question which is exciting even greater interest
among yachtslnen than the plans of the Thistle is
what boat will be chosen to defend the Americas Cup
Last fall the almost unanimous answer would have
been the Mayfower. But now SO many unknown
factors have been introduced that becomes matter
tor speculation The contest for the honor is admitted
ly narrowed down to four boats. Tho Puritan
Priscilla Mayno.er and General Pane's new steel
yfcht.
The Puritan and the Mayfower will probably come
to the line in the trial in about the same con-
dtiou AZ they were last year. and OF course they may
be eApected to show about the same relative speed
The Priscilla however, VIII undergo some aitera-
tons, which her owner. Commodore Canheld fondIy
homes will add materially to her feetness. In Drlef
her ballast will be lowered considerably, and her
power will be increased by large additional sail area
Whether these chapges will enable her to make
covered through actual experiments put wnetner
they do not there is Mr. Burgesss latest effort IN
naval architecture to be met, and many people are
just now pinning their faith to that.
Mr. Burgess does not hesitate to say that there are
weak spots in the Mayfower, and having found them
he does not propose that they shall crop out in the
steel boat The latter is in fact, neither more nor less
than another Maybower with the faults corrected.
She will have more Oyerhang, both forward aud aIt
line length beam, draft and sail area VIII he almost
precisely the same 1t is her mdship section that
at is thought the new boat will Differ most from oer
predecessor ana this, it is believed. will be more
poweriul One OF her greatest advantages Will De
tbat her weights will be greatly lowered, the lead
ballast being run into the trough forming the BOTTOM
OF the keel. ~ A..
Mr. Burgess refuses to make public the exact
dimensions OF the new boat at present. but the .oow
in came from trustworthy source and are beiievei
10 be about right Length over ALL lOO teeti length
on water lne SO ieet length of keel, 20 feet; beam
(extrene % feet; draft 10 feet. me area OF ner
sails vii, be about "a follows: Nainsa lou SQUARE
feet; gaiitop,a 900 staysail, 800; ib, l,2oO, ana
spinnaker ZOO square feet
Pusey & Jones, OF Wilmington, began WORK on lne
vacht early last week aud have contracted to COM
pete her within ninety days. Mr. Burgess Will watcn
her progress closely and put forth every effort to
make her what she should be.
Those members OF the Seawanhaka Clab who
supgested the formation OF naval reserve among
yachtsen have had he satisfaction OF seeing
the idea take root and grow with wonderful rapiditJ
They have received much encouragement anu I'M
expected aid the naval authorities, and almos,
"a .oop as tner subject became known-and without so
much as o request from them-a bill was introduced
In the Senate To provide tor such organization as
they sought The detoils OF the plan OF the reserve
have not been perfected yet.
AT the end of the race between the Dauntless and
Coronet n report WAS :ndnstriOusy circulated that
CAPTAIN SamueIs had ascri0e1 the defeat OF the
DauntIrs, 10 Interference by ar. Colt This prompt
" denied BY the former. out there are, nevertneess
IN believe
did atiempt TO run the vessel after his own fashion,
They are assisted the belief by the knowledge that
many yacnt-owners in Ncw-iork have done much 10
cripe their boats in bYdctatng To their saln
masters In the majority OF instances, whatever
nautical information yachtowners have has oeen
picked up hastily. somewhat late In me- ana whi,o
thew hire shippers to navigate their vessels
men who have devoted lIietmes 10 acquiring tho
sort OF knowledge and experience which necessary
to thorough understanding OF me oTas aney a., are
handling in race-hey too often take the relns INTO
their own hands and usually make sad botch OF It.
Commenting on this prediction OF the New-fork
yacht-owners, an exolticer OF the Navy VINO has
watched Yachting closely since IL hrst became popular
in America, has this to say:
The secret of the ability OF Boston competitors
10 obtain the maximum amount OF speed out OF their
Yachts lie, in the tact that the boats are constructed
conmanded aud manned solely by professionals.
Alter tho marine architect has received the order Tor
the size and character OF yacht wanted every dctan
in her construction sparring etc. 10 lett TO hin Tue
owner begins immediately search Tor competent
and Trustworthy sailing master, wbo when io"nd, Is
put ia charge OF the sacht as soon as iaunehea c,
In turn selects his own mate and crew ana exercises
the Judgment as tue owner ana II, tr n'
made ard is under the supervision ana cohtro OF tne
designer Ii the observation oil the owner ieaus
him TO think that some alterations are necessary 10
improve her. no informs his de OF MS IDEAS but
leaves the matter entirely IN the designers bands So
Won see. no changes made unless approved BY
him No matter how many OF the o~pers friends
NAV snv: You on hit do this and you ought to do
that he pins his faith to the designer aoe ana never
allows any outside interference.
~Thy result is that when the boat comes to the line
IN n race she il really the embodiment OF one mans
ideas As she approaches the starting line, no one
knows better than the designer the necessity OF hay
inc one man to take full charge, and he himself now
turns her entirely over TO the sailing anu Us
sort OF ,aedctory shot. says Zee your best Juds-
meut an Get all out OF her you cam
"Tno sailing master ii he y a competent one mas
learned the faults and virtues OF the yacht IN the t
trims. In all races he has full charge. All orders
cmannto from HIM and him alone. Tie owner never
d,cta T. him allows any guest 10 HIKE
costons The men are under perfect discipline md
are not interfered with in tho performance OF their
work. In fine, the boats sailed BY professionals
from the skipper down to the iorecastle hands.
q Onr Eastern competitors, by the adoption of such
methods have always able to come IN winners in
races where the boats of their antagonists have been
sailed and managed by amateurs. 1t Is not model
alone that makes boat fast 1t 10 largely good man
acement and the giving OF ncnary powers to the archi
tect and sailing master, each in his department..